Hawks raid ANC SG Magashule’s offices over Gupta dairy farm scandal

ANC Secretary General and Free State Premier Ace Magashule has had his offices raided by the Hawks. Why? Something to do with the Guptas and a dairy farm...

EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 13: ANC top six; Jessie Duarte, Ace Magashule, Gwede Mantashe, Cyril Ramaphosa, David Mabuza and Paul Mashatile on stage during the delivery of President Ramaphosa’s January 8 Statement at the party’s 106th birthday celebrations at Absa Stadium on January 13, 2018 in East London, South Africa. Ramphosa delivered his January 8 Statement as Africa’s oldest liberation movement, celebrated its 106th birthday in the Eastern Cape. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Masi Losi)

In a massive news story on Friday, the Hawks have confirmed that they are conducting search and seizure operations at the office of Free State Premier and ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule. The Hawks say the matter is relating to the controversial Gupta linked Vrede Dairy Farm.

A Hawks team are also raiding the Free State provincial office of the Department of Agriculture.

The two special units are searching for specific documents and electronic data linked to the case.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit recently obtained a preservation order regarding the 4000 + hectare farm. Over R220 million in multiple Gupta banks accounts were also frozen.

Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi could only confirm that the raids were taking place at this stage.

More to follow.

Who is Ace Magashule?

History in Politics?

He’s a long-time member of the ANC, and has been the Premier of Free State since 2009. He’s very much a Jacob Zuma loyalist too.

Whose slate was Magashule on?

He belonged to the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma camp, and is joined by David Mabuza as Deputy President as NDZ’s picks that made the top six.

The good

He’s a bit of a local hero in Free State and their Provincial Election Committee. They refer to him as an ‘Eternal’ Premier of the area. He’ll have a tough job convincing the rest of the country, but he’s highly regarded by his own electorate.

The bad

He’s also played his part in enabling the Guptas to stretch their tentacles into local government. He oversaw the Vrede farm scandal and was complicit in the billionaires’ money laundering schemes within the province.

The ugly

In April 2015 it was reported that R8 million of taxpayer’s money had been spent in the 2011/12 financial year on aesthetic renovations to his official residence.

While South Africa was caught up in the 2010 World Cup frenzy, Free State premier Ace Magashule was allegedly pulling the strings behind a multimillion-rand tender to provide soccer-related regalia. He has a history of greasing the wheels of backdoor deals, and could be one of the more problematic members of Cyril’s team.